Aside

View this CV online with links at hughcross.github.io/cv

Contact

Programming Skills

Python
Jupyter
Bash
R
SQL
HTML/CSS

Fieldwork

Foreign Language

Fluent in Spanish


Disclaimer

Made with pagedown in R.

Source code: github.com/hughcross/cv.

Last updated on 2021-10-13.

Main

Hugh Cross, PhD

I am a computational biologist with a background in ecology and evolutionary genetics. I work on projects across the tree of life, utilising many kinds of data and multiple approaches. With biodiversity studies as a centerpoint, I have naturally come to specialise in metagenomics research. To study any environment is to study a community of genes engaged in molecular dialogues–both within and between species, and this requires a community of researchers working together. I hope to find this team.

Education

Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Columbia University

New York, NY

2003

M.Sc., Plant Breeding and Genetics

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO

1998

B.A., Anthropology

University of Colorado

Boulder, CO

1993

Support and Awards

Invertebrate Diversity in Common Ash Canopies with a Glimpse of Hidden Diversity Using Next Generation Sequencing

Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre, 2.6 million Norwegian kroner (~$US325,000)

N/A

2016

  • with K. Thunes

Micro- and macroalgae interactions with bacteria and fungi to improve the viability of commercial algae production (MICMAC)

Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research Development Pilot Grants, 1.5 million Norwegian kroner (~$US187,500)

N/A

2016

  • With C. Bruckner, N. Nagy

Soils to Satellites

Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Education Investment Fund (Australia), A$184,568.29

N/A

2012

  • with A. Lowe (Chief Investigator), P. Doherty, C. Walker, G. Guerin

Impact of grazing on lichens in Murray Basin

South Australia Native Vegetation Research Grant, A$16,230

N/A

2010

Environmental Genomics: Mining, climate change, water, crime and health

ARC Linkage (Australia), A$498,058.52

N/A

2010

  • with A. Cooper (Chief Investigator), Adelson D, Brook B, Facelli J, Stevens M, Paton J, Tuckweng K.

21st Century Taxonomy - DNA barcoding of Grasses

Taxonomy Research Initiative Network (Australia), A$63,000

N/A

2009

Molecular genetics to improve the knowledge of plants in South Australia

DEH Research Partnerships (Australia), A$30,385.04

N/A

2009

Evolution and Domestication in the Genus Sechium

Explorers Club Award, US$1,200

N/A

2002

Genetic Diversity of Chayote

Torrey Botanical Society Graduate Student Award Honorable Mention, US$500

N/A

2002

Origins, Evolution, and Conservation of Crop Plants: A Molecular Approach

Torrey Botanical Society Symposium Support Award, US$2,500

N/A

2002

  • with co-organizers T.J. Motley and N. Zerega


Professional & Research Experience

Bioinformatician

Department of Anatomy, University of Otago

N/A

Present - 2017

  • Conducting bioinformatic analyses on several projects in the department, including on genome and transcriptome assembly and annotation, gene expression, population and phylogenetic research
  • Training staff and students in basic and advanced data analysis methods

Scientist

Department of Forest Health, Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)

N/A

2017 - 2013

  • Primary responsibility was conducting bioinformatic analyses on several projects in the department of Forest Health at the institute, including genome and transcriptome assembly, gene expression, population and phylogenetic research of plants, animals, and fungus, and metagenomics

Molecular Botanist

State Herbarium of South Australia

N/A

2013 - 2008

  • Conducted research in all areas of plant and fungal genomics, including genomic, transcriptomic, and bioinformatic applications for biodiversity and ecology
  • Main coordinator for DNA Barcoding projects
  • Trained and consulted with staff for next generation sequencing research

Affiliate Research Fellow

Australian Centre for Ancient DNA & Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia

N/A

2013 - 2008

  • Conducted research in ancient DNA of plants and fungi
  • Led genetic components for major ecological research projects

Research Associate/Laboratory Manager

Pringle Lab, Dept of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University

N/A

2008 - 2005

  • Responsible for setting up and maintaining the facility, training new users, establishing all protocols, and conducting research in molecular evolution, systematics, and population genetics
  • Developed molecular markers for AFLP, ISSR, and DNA sequence data analyses of fungi and their plant hosts
  • Developed methods for the molecular analysis of soil biota, including fungal-plant interactions, and DNA extraction from historical collections of fungus

Laboratory Manager

Leiden Ancient DNA Facility, National Herbarium of The Netherlands

N/A

2005 - 2003

  • Responsible for establishing the facility, ordering equipment, establishing protocols for proper use
  • Trained other researchers to use the facility
  • Optimized protocols for extraction of DNA from museum materials

Postdoctoral Researcher

Leiden Herbarium, National Herbarium of The Netherlands

N/A

2005 - 2003

  • Responsible for extraction, amplification, and sequencing of species of Zehneria and related genera to construct a molecular phylogeny of the genus
  • Developed new molecular markers for Cucurbitaceae
  • Conducted various projects in ancient DNA research in conjunction with researchers at the herbarium, the University of Leiden, and the Naturalis Natural History Museum

PhD Fellow

Cullman Laboratory for Molecular Systematics Studies, The New York Botanical Garden

N/A

2003 - 1999

  • Conducted research in molecular genetics, including molecular sequencing, and molecular marker data (AFLP)
  • Trained graduate students, postdoctoral students, and visiting scientists in molecular techniques and analyses

DNA Database Manager and Technician

Cullman Laboratory for Molecular Systematics Studies, The New York Botanical Garden

N/A

2002 - 2001

  • Set up the DNA database for the collection at the Cullman Laboratory using Freezerworks software
  • Transferred data from lab files and fieldbooks; labeled DNA and dried-silica collections

Publications

Publications Overview:

First mitochondrial genome of the Caucasian squirrel Sciurus anomalus (Rodentia, Scriuridae)

Mitochondrial DNA Part B 6: 883-885

N/A

2021

  • Boukhdoud, L., Parker, L.D., McInerney, N.R., Saliba, C., Kahale, R., Cross, H.B., Matisoo-Smith, L., Maldonado, J.E., Bou Dagher Kharrat, M.

First mitochondrial genome of the marbled polecat Vormela peregusna (Carnivora, Mustelidae)

Mitochondrial DNA Part B 6: 1009-1011

N/A

2021

  • Boukhdoud, L., Parker, L.D., McInerney, N.R., Saliba, C., Kahale, R., Cross, H.B., Matisoo-Smith, L., Maldonado, J.E., Bou Dagher Kharrat, M.

Genomic sequencing comfirms absence of introgression despite past hybridisation between a common and critically endangered bird

Global Ecology and Conservation 28: e01681

N/A

2021

  • Forsdick, N.J., Martini, D., Brown, L., Cross, H.B., Maloney, R.F., Steeves, T.E., Knapp, M.

Genomic screening reveals that the endangered Eucalyptus paludicola (Myrtaceae) is a hybrid

Diversity 12: 468

N/A

2020

  • van Dijk, K., Waycott, M., Quarmby, J., Bickerton, D., Thornhill, A.H., Cross, H.B., Biffin, E.

Molecular underpinnings of long-term methyl jasmonate-induced resistance in Norway spruce

Plant Cell & Environment 43: 1827-1843.

N/A

2020

  • Magerøy, M., Wilkinson, S., Tengs, T., Cross, H.B., Almvik, M., Petriacq, P., Vivian-Smith, A., Zhao, T., Fossdal, C.G., Krokene, P.

Stress, novel sex genes and epigenetic reprogramming orchestrate socially-controlled sex change

Science Advances 7 eaaw7006

N/A

2020

  • Todd, E.V., Ortega-Recalde, O., Liu, H., Lamm, M.S., Rutherford, K.M., Cross, H.B., Black, M.A., Kardailsky, O., Marshall Graves, J.A., Hore, T.A., Godwin, J.R., Gemmell, N.J.

One thousand plant transcriptomes and the phylogenomics of green plants

Nature 574: 679-685.

N/A

2019

  • Leebens-Mack, J. et al.

The Sturt pea through 300 years of Australian botanical exploration

Swainsona 30: 1-8.

N/A

2018

  • Cross, H.B., Biffin, E., Waycott, M.

Ash dieback in Norway - current situation

In: Dieback of European Ash (Fraxinus spp.) - Consequences and Guidelines for Sustainable Management (Eds: Vasaitis, R. & Enderle, R.), pp. 166-175. COST.

N/A

2017

  • Børja, I., Timmermann, V., Hietala, A.M., Tollefsrud, M.M., Nagy, N.E., Vivian-Smith, A., Cross, H.B., Sønstebø, J.H., Myking, T., Solheim, H.

Fungal diversity and seasonal succession in ash leaves infected by the invasive ascomycete Hymenoscyphus fraxineus

New Phytologist, 213(3): 1405-1417

N/A

2017

  • Cross, H.B., Sønstebø, J.H., Nagy, N.E., Timmermann, V., Solheim, H., Børja, I., Kauserud, H., Carlsen, T., Rzepka, B., Wasak, K., Vivian-Smith, A., Hietala, A.M.

Effective application of next generation sequencing (NGS) approaches in systematics and population genetics - case studies in Eucalyptus and Acacia

Australian Systematic Botany 29(3): 235-246

N/A

2016

  • Cross, H.B., Biffin, E., van Dijk, K., Lowe, A., Waycott, M.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of Cucurbitaceae tribe Benincaseae urge for merging of Pilogyne with Zehneria

Phytotaxa, 236(2): 173-183

N/A

2015

  • de Boer, H.J., Cross, H.B., de Wilde, J.J.O., Duyfjes, B.E.E., Gravendeel, B.

Using phylogenetic diversity to identify ancient rain forest refugia and diversification zones in a biodiversity hotspot.

Diversity and Distributions 21: 279-289

N/A

2015

  • Costion, C. Edwards, W., Ford, A., Metcalfe, D., Cross, H.B., Harrington, M., Richardson, J., Hilbert, D., Lowe, A., Crayn, D.

Global change community ecology beyond species-sorting: a quantitative framework based on mediterranean-biome examples

Global Ecology and Biogeography 23: 1062-1072

N/A

2014

  • Guerin, G, Martín-Forés, I, Biffin, E., Baruch, Z., Breed, M., Christmas, M., Cross, H.B., Lowe, A.J.

A spatially predictive baseline for monitoring multivariate species occurrences and phylogenetic shifts in mediterranean southern Australia

Journal of Vegetation Science 25: 338-348

N/A

2013

  • Guerin, G.R., Biffin, E., Jardine, D.I., Cross, H.B., Lowe, A.J.

The application of DNA methods to timber tracking and origin verification

IAWA Journal 32 (2): 251-262

N/A

2011

  • Lowe, A.J. & Cross, H.B.

Plant DNA barcodes can accurately estimate species richness in poorly known floras

PloS ONE 6(11): e26841

N/A

2011

  • Costion, C., Ford, A., Cross, H.B., Crayn, D., Harrington, M., Lowe, A.J.

DNA barcoding of Invasive Species

In Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton (Ed. Richardson D.). Chapter 22. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

N/A

2010

  • Cross H.B., Lowe A.J., Gurgel C.F.D.

Distribution and abundance of the introduced ectomycorrhizal fungus, Amanita phalloides, in North America

New Phytologist 185: 803-816

N/A

2010

  • Wolfe B.E., Richard, F., Cross, H.B., and Pringle A.

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Amanita phalloides was introduced and is expanding its range on the west coast of North America

Molecular Ecology 18: 817-833

N/A

2009

  • Pringle, A., Rachel I. Adams, R. I., Cross, H.B., Bruns, T.D.

The ecological implications of a Yakutian mammoth’s last meal

Quaternary Research 69: 361-376

N/A

2008

  • van Geel, B., Aptroot, A., Baittinger, C., Birks, H.H., Bull, I.D., Kompanje, E.J.O., Cross, H.B., Evershed, R.P., Gravendeel, B., Kuperus, P., Nierop, K.G.J., Mol, D., Pals, J.P., Tikhonov, A. N., van Reenen, G., and van Tienderen, P.H.

The use of orchid pollinia or pollinaria for taxonomic identification

Selbyana 29(1): 6-19

N/A

2008

  • Singer, R. B., Gravendeel, B., Cross, H.B., Ramirez, S. R.

Assessment of age and greenness of herbarium specimens as predictor for successful extraction and amplification of DNA

Blumea 53: 407-428

N/A

2008

  • Erkens, R. H. J., Cross, H.B., Maas, J. W., Hoenselaar, K., and Chartrou, L. W.

Origin and diversification of chayote

In: Darwin’s Harvest: New Approaches to the Origins, Evolution, and Conservation of Crops (Motley, Zerega, and Cross eds.). Columbia University Press

N/A

2006

  • Cross, H.B., Lira Saade, R., and Motley, T. J.

Darwin’s Harvest: New Approaches to the Origins, Evolution, and Conservation of Crops

Columbia University Press

N/A

2006

  • Motley, T. J., N. Zerega, and H.B. Cross, (editors)

Regulating access to genetic resources: An analysis of selected case studies

Biodiversity and Conservation 12(7), 1511-1524

N/A

2003

  • Dávalos, L.M, Sears, R., Raygorodetsky, G., Simmons, B., Cross, H.B., Grant, T., Barnes, T., Putzel, L. and Porzecanski, A.L.

Phenotypic and genetic diversity of chayote germplasm

Proceedings of the 2002 Cucurbitaceae Congress: 138-143

N/A

2002

  • Cross, H.B., and Motley, T. J.

Natural History of Mesoamerica

In: Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures, Carrasco et al. (editors). Oxford University Press, New York

N/A

2001

  • Cross, H.B.

Rainforests of Mesoamerica

In: Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures, Carrasco et al. (editors). Oxford University Press, New York

N/A

2001

  • Cross, H.B.

Inheritance of resistance to Fusarium wilt in two common bean races

Crop Science 40(4), 954-958

N/A

2000

  • Cross, H.B., Brick, M.A., Schwartz, H.F., Panella, L.W., Byrne, P.F.

Teaching Experience

Instructor, Workshop in Environmental DNA

University of Otago

Dunedin & Auckland, NZ

Present - 2019

  • Designed from bottom up course to teach methods & concepts for eDNA metabarcoding

Instructor, Software/Data Carpentry

University of Otago

Dunedin, NZ

Present - 2018

  • Teaching basic and advanced bioinformatic skills using live coding in a team-teaching environment

Instructor, Advanced Bioinformatic Workshops

University of Otago

Dunedin, NZ

Present - 2017

  • Teaching applied bioinformatic skills in specific fields, including population genetics and gene expression (RNAseq)

Instructor, Undergraduate honours course (ANAT458)

University of Otago

Dunedin, NZ

2019

  • Gave lectures on data analysis for team-taught course to prepare honours students for their research component.

Lecture: Applications of Ancient DNA for archaeology

Leiden University

Leiden, The Netherlands

2004

  • Invited lecture

Public Tour: Botanicals for Flavors and Scent

The New York Botanical Garden

New York, NY

2001

  • Gave a tour of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, focusing on plants in the collection that are used as flavors and scents

Lecture: The evolution of stem and wood structure

The Cooper Union School of Art

New York, NY

2001

  • General Botany for undergraduates

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Columbia University

New York, NY

2000 - 1999

  • Taught recitation for introductory biology course
  • Helped professor design and grade exams

Instructor, Genetics course

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO

1998

  • Taught midlevel genetics course required for all science majors
  • Covered basic and advanced genetics topics, including transmission, population, and molecular genetics

Teaching Assistant, Genetics

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO

1998

  • Taught laboratory section for genetics course

Teaching Assistant, Physical Anthropology

University of Colorado

Boulder, CO

1993

  • Assisted professor in preparing and grading exams
  • helped students with material

Teacher, English as a Second Language

University of Guadalajara

Guadalajara, Mexico

1992 - 1991

  • Taught English as a second language from beginning to advanced levels to students of all ages


Selected Abstracts and Presentations

Environmental DNA from pāua (Haliotis spp.) in New Zealand reflects common, but not rare, haplotypic variation in a field setting

Presented at the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution annual meeting (Virtual Meeting)

N/A

2021

  • Adams, C.I.M., Hepburn, C., Cross, H.B., Taylor, H.R., Gemmell, N.J., Bunce, M., Jeunen, G-J., Knapp, M.

Origin and evolution of Tuberculosis in New Zealand

Presented at Queenstown Molecular Biology Meeting, Queenstown, NZ

N/A

2019

  • Knapp, M., McDonald, S.K., Buckley, H., Kardailsky, O., Aung, H.L., Cross, H.B., Jeunen, G-J., Matisoo-Smith, E., Walter, R., Cook, G.M.

Unraveling phenology: epigenetic memory adjusts bud set and bud burst in Picea

Presented at NorPlantBio, Trondheim, Norway

N/A

2016

  • Viejo, M., Carneros, E., Cross, H.B., Lee, Y.K., Yakovlev, I., Fossdal, C.G., Olsen, J.E.

Priming of plant immunity: molecular mechanisms of defense priming in Norway spruce

Presented at 5th International Workshop on the Genetics of Tree-Parasite Interactions, Orleans, France

N/A

2015

  • Krokene, P., Fossdal, C.G., Vivian-Smith, A., Cross, H.B., Zhao, T.

Effect of primed conifer defences on a tree-killing bark beetle-fungus complex

Presented at IUFRO Tree Biotechnology Conference, Florence, Italy

N/A

2015

  • Fossdal, C.G., Cross, H.B., Vivian-Smith, A., Krokene, P.

Community profiling of ash leaf mycoflora at a stand heavily affected by ash dieback

Presented at seminar Advances in Fungal Genomics, Ås, Norway

N/A

2015

  • Cross, H.B., Hietala, A.

Transcriptomic analysis of the spruce bark beetle

Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Bioinformatics in Northern Europe, Oslo, Norway

N/A

2014

  • Cross, H.B., Fossdal, C. G., Vivian-Smith, A., Krokene, P.

Exploring plant genomic biodiversity in South Australia

Presented at the CBA Biodiversity Genomics Conference, Canberra, Australia

N/A

2013

  • Cross, H.B., Biffin, E., van Dijk, K. Waycott, M.

Tales from the cryptogams, fungal DNA from museum collections

Plenary speaker at the Fourth International Barcode of Life Conference, Adelaide, Australia

N/A

2011

  • Cross, H.B., Pringle, A.

Strangers in a strange land: camel impact on Australian native flora

Presented at the Fourth International Barcode of Life Conference, Adelaide, Australia

N/A

2011

  • Cross, H.B., Armstrong, K., Bauman, U., Thomson, V. Jardine, D. Cooper, A.

Utilizing Grass DNA barcodes to Explore Australian Ecosystems

Presented at the International Botanical Congress, Melbourne, Australia

N/A

2011

  • Cross, H.B., Murphy, D., Brown, A., Gardner, S., Syme, A., Jardine, D., Cantrill, D., Lowe, A.J.

Paleoecology from the ground up: ancient DNA of fungi

Presented at the International Botanical Congress, Melbourne, Australia

N/A

2011

  • Cross, H.B., Cooper, A.

Ancient DNA of a Mammoth’s Last Meal

Invited Seminar Speaker, Department of Geology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

N/A

2007

  • Cross, H.B.

Obtaining plant DNA from museum material

Presented at the International Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria

N/A

2005

  • Cross, H.B., Gravendeel, B.


Symposia and Workshops Organised

Environmental DNA Workshop

University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

N/A

2019

Plant Ancient Biomolecules: Human History and Changing Climates

Symposium at the International Botanical Congress, Melbourne, Australia

N/A

2011

Current Research in Ancient Plant DNA

Symposium at the International Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria

N/A

2005

  • co-organized with Terry Brown

Ancient DNA

Naturalis Museum

Leiden, The Netherlands

2004

Origins, Evolution, and Conservation of Crop Plants: A Molecular Approach

The New York Botanical Garden

Bronx, NY

2002

  • Co-organized with Timothy J. Motley and Nyree Zerega
  • Sponsored symposium at the Society for Economic Botany annual meeting

Application of Next Generation DNA Sequencing in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment: Current Status and Future Directions

Adelaide University

Adelaide

N/A